Farrowing crates that severely restrict sow movement during and after birth are one of the most contested welfare issues in pig farming, with alternatives being increasingly adopted.
The farrowing crate debate encapsulates a genuine welfare dilemma: preventing one form of suffering (piglet crushing) by causing another (sow confinement). Improved free-farrowing pen designs have substantially addressed the crushing concern, demonstrating that sow welfare and piglet survival are not fundamentally incompatible goals. The persistence of crates in most major producing countries reflects economic and management inertia rather than welfare necessity.